I bought a used M-Audio Venom synth for $280 this weekend, but didn't get around to mess with it yet. It seemed to be a cool synth and sounded pretty decent to me when I tested it on site. I'd like to hear your opinions about this synth. Was this a good deal or a waste of time and money? Am I stuck with presets or can this synth be programmed (didn't find an option to edit the sounds other than twisting performance knobs) If it is not a good synth, which alternatives do you recommend?

PS: Ok, I read somewhere that the synth can be programmed with a software editor, which seems kind of counter-intuitive to me, but I ain't gonna let that scare me off. Can the sounds be edited/created from scratch with a hardware controller of sorts?

Check out the software tab for the product at the M-Audio site--there is an upgrade for the software (vyzex, or something like that). I hope it's a standalone upgrade, not a patch for previously installed software. They also have drivers that seem to be up-to-date. Have fun figuring the synth out.
Steve

So I didn't get a clear answer about accessing all of the parameters in real time with a controller, not meaning to get pesky about it, but has anyone successfully hooked up a hardware controller to the Venom and tweaked around with all internal parameters without using the editor program?

So I was wondering how you found the Venom and were you able to find a suitable way to program it? I just stumbled upon your post and was intrigued because when I first got it I wasn't pleased with it mainly because of the Editor(Which has a new update I am flabbergasted to have just found out!

I tried to use a Novation Remote zero with it by running a midi cable out from it to the Venom with minimal unsatisfying results. The Venom display does not show any other paramaters other than what is in the matrix so how can you edit stuff you can't see.

Saw an ad in craigslist Seattle, went there and got it from Tacoma by bus... was impressed by the sound but put off by the limited on'board editing (I prefer that over clicking and scrolling with the mouse), still worth diving into it. Didn't try to program it with any hardware (although I have an xio synth/controller but it's missing most of it's knobs, as found @ CashAmerica)

Just realized that I posted from my other account (I don't use lostinpurdy anymore). I need to remember to turn off the "stay logged on" feature

I've only sat down with this synth for an hour and a half or so, but I was pleasantly surprised by the sound. I need a synth's sound to kinda "speak to me" for me to really get into it (and not all synths do) and this one actually did. I could definitely find a use for this synth. Might get one at some stage. I wish that sound had been packaged better, though, I have to say that.

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